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Corpses, ashes and unborn children — none count as passengers in California carpool lanes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

Q. I was traveling east on the 91 Freeway in the No. 1 lane with moderate traffic when a hearse went by in the HOV lane with only a driver in the car. So if a corpse was in a coffin in the back, does that qualify as two people in the vehicle? If that is true, then can you have a vase with a cremated relative in your passenger seat and qualify as two people?– Tom Anderson, Lake ForestA. No, and so no again.“A corpse or a vase of cremated remains does not qualify as a second passenger,” said Mitch Smith, an officer and spokesman for the California Highway Patrol out of its Westminster station house. “It’s the same thing as an unborn child, it’s not going to count.”Smith offered up other unsuccessful attempts officers hear or see:— The driver claims to have avoided a collision.— “I was just using this lane to pass.”— A Halloween mask attached to the passenger’s headrest. “That happens frequently,” Smith said.Driving tip: If you are solo and take a carpool lane by accident, don’t cross ...

SF teachers' union reaches tentative agreement with school district

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

(KRON) – The United Educators of San Francisco Teachers Association announced a tentative agreement was made with the San Francisco Unified School District on Friday at 6 a.m.According to UESF, the two-year agreement includes:Certificated educators receive a permanent raise on the salary schedule of $9,000 the first year and a 5 percent increase the second year.Classified educators would receive a minimum salary of $30 per hour or an 8 percent increase (whichever is greater) in the first year and a 5 percent increase in the second year. Longevity for paraeducators will no longer be 30 cents an hour at 10 years. Educators now have percentage wins starting at 5 years, with 1 percent at 5 years, 2 percent at 10 years, 3 percent at 15 years, and 4 percent at 20 years.Substitute educators would see a 15 percent raise over two years. Prop A substitutes would make $80 more than the day-to-day sub-rate. There will no longer be a two-tiered pay rate for subs.“Every win in this tentative agre...

Andre Iguodala retiring after 19 seasons in NBA: reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala is retiring after a 19-year career in the NBA, according to reports from ESPN and The New York Times. Iguodala won four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. Oakland Roots wants community to help design stadium He was NBA Finals MVP in 2015 and an NBA All-Star in 2012. Iguodala, along with Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, was part of the Warriors core group during the team's successful run over the last decade, which included back-to-back NBA championships in 2017 and 2018.In addition to his success with the Warriors, Iguodala, 39, also had stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, the Denver Nuggets, and the Miami Heat.

Home Depot employee allegedly embezzled $1.2m in cash: San Rafael PD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

(KRON) -- A San Rafael Home Depot employee was arrested after the home improvement retail store alleged she embezzled approximately $1.2 million over the past year, according to the San Rafael Police Department.Home Depot’s internal investigation revealed the female employee allegedly started taking cash from the retail store starting in August 2022, and reported it to San Rafael police on Oct. 17, 2023. At the time of arrest, San Rafael PD said the employee had over $8,000 in her possession. Two women arrested for stealing $1,900 of merchandise at Great Mall in Milpitas A search warrant served at the employee’s residence uncovered a small amount of cash and a “high volume” of designer merchandise, which police investigators believe was purchased with the embezzled funds, San Rafael PD said.Police said the employee admitted to taking cash from the business since last year.SRPD booked the employee into Marin County Jail for felony embezzlement charges, police said. Detectives added...

Protesters padlock doors at SF federal building Thursday calling for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas conflict

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- There was police activity in the area of 7th Street between Jessie Street and Mission Street Thursday afternoon, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management said on X, formerly Twitter. Emergency crews are on the scene. SFPD makes several arrests in Embarcadero shooting The area is the scene of a large protest demanding a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas where activists are reportedly attempting to shut down Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi's office and padlocking doors shut. San Francisco PD and Homeland Security units are reportedly on the scene.A statement sent out by protest organizers called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict and mentioned Democratic Rep. Cori Bush's resolution for a ceasefire.People are being advised to expect traffic delay, consider alternate routes and allow for additional travel time. No other details were immediately available.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

South Africa and England meet again at the Rugby World Cup in rematch of 2019 final

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

They’re the reigning world champions. They’re the No. 1 team in the world. They’ve just dumped out the highly fancied home nation in a Rugby World Cup epic.No wonder the Springboks are big favorites heading into their semifinal against England in Paris on Saturday.The English are trying not to think that way, though.“We’re not talking about a team that’s never lost,” England lock Maro Itoje said. “We’re not talking about a team that is without fault. They are a good team. But so are we.”Itoje is one of 13 players in England’s matchday squad who played in the 32-12 loss to South Africa in the World Cup final in Japan in 2019. England was coming off one of the greatest all-round performances in its history — the 19-7 victory over New Zealand in the semifinals — and couldn’t sustain that level a week later as it was blown away up front in the first half and picked apart out wide in the second half.While the English have stood still in the inter...

A Maryland judge presided over the divorce case of the man identified as suspect in his killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — A judge who was shot to death at home was “targeted” by a suspect in a divorce case, authorities in Maryland said Friday.Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said authorities are “actively working” to apprehend 49-year-old Pedro Argote in the shooting of Maryland Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson.Wilkinson, 52, was found with gunshot wounds around 8 p.m. Thursday in the driveway of his home in Hagerstown, authorities said. Wilkinson was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.Albert said at a news conference Friday that the judge’s wife and son were also home at the time of the shooting.Authorities are “actively looking” for Argote, who is considered “armed and dangerous.” Albert said Argote legally owned a handgun.Wilkinson had presided over a divorce proceeding involving Argote earlier Thursday, but that Argote was not present for the hearing.Albert said that the judge gave custody of Argote’s children to his wife at the hea...

Mental health crisis costing Northern Virginia over $8 billion a year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

The mental health crisis is costing the Northern Virginia region $8 billion a year in unrealized economic output, according to a  new report from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.The report from the foundation’s research arm, Insight Region, found that the economic loss caused by mental health has quadrupled since 2019, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020.In 2019, worker mental health issues cost the region about 1% in productivity – the equivalent of $2.1 billion – in potential gross regional product (GRP). About 11% of working adults were experiencing mild anxiety or depression in that timeframe.However, during the pandemic, more than half of all workers reported levels of anxiety or depression. As of May 2023, that statistic held with 53% of the workforce struggling.The elevated levels of mental health needs caused productivity losses to increase by 2.1 percentage points – or over $8 billion in potential GRP each year, according to the repo...

Can the new film ‘Uncharitable’ change people’s minds about overhead at nonprofits?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — All Hands and Hearts makes a promise in big letters on the front page of its website: “95 cents of every dollar is spent on our programs.”The Massachusetts-based disaster relief nonprofit, like so many charitable organizations have for decades, feels the pressure to operate as leanly as possible. Izzy Smith, chief information officer for All Hands and Hearts, which mobilizes volunteers to respond to natural disasters, called it an “enduring challenge for nonprofits” to explain to donors and the public about the need to invest in operations and shared services. “Financial instability as a nonprofit actually reduces our effectiveness and efficiency,” Smith said.A new documentary “Uncharitable,” from “Paris Trout” and “Losing Isaiah” director Stephen Gyllenhaal, wants to change that. It tells the story of longtime advocate Dan Pallotta, who pioneered the idea of fundraising through bike rides and road races initially to raise money for AIDS and cancer research and...

Hurricane Norma heads for Mexico’s Los Cabos resorts, as Tammy becomes hurricane in the Atlantic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:17 GMT

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Norma weakened slightly but remained a major storm Friday as it took aim at the twin resorts of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula in the Pacific.In the Atlantic, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said another tropical storm, Tammy, had grown into a hurricane, with winds of 75 mph (120 kph). Hurricane watches were in effect for the islands of Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy. The center said Norma had 110 mph (185 kph) maximum sustained winds and was located about 245 miles (395 kilometers) south of Cabo San Lucas. The Category 2 storm was moving north-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).Hotels in Los Cabos, which are largely frequented by foreign tourists, remained about three-quarters full and there has been no major move by visitors to leave, Baja California Sur state tourism secretary Maribel Collins said.The government posted 500 Marines ...